Conducting Research at the SCRC

The Breckinridge Research Room provides in-person access to rare books, archival and manuscript collections, public policy collections, Appalachian collections, Kentuckiana, and other materials held at the SCRC.

Follow these steps to plan your visit to the SCRC and explore the incredible breadth of our collections.

To make use of the many research support services that the SCRC has to offer, first create a Research Services Account. Your account will allow you to:

• schedule an appointment to visit the Breckinridge Research Room
• request and view SCRC materials, and track the items you have used
• utilize the Breckinridge Digital Studio
• request digital scans of SCRC materials

Anyone can create an account, regardless of affiliation with UK. For step-by-step instructions on creating an account for both UK and non-UK users, visit our SCRC Account Guide.

The SCRC is open Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm. While walk-ins are welcome, confirmed appointments are preferred for viewing materials.

Use the SCRC Account Guide to schedule an appointment. 

After scheduling an appointment, request the materials you would like to view during your visit.

Most of the SCRC’s materials are stored off-site, so we ask that you submit requests at least five business days prior to your scheduled visit to ensure their availability.

The process for requesting materials varies depending on what you’re looking for. Find step-by-step instructions for:

• Requesting archival materials 
• Requesting oral histories 
• Requesting rare books and print materials 

You will receive notifications via your Research Services Account when your materials are ready to view.

Same-day requests for materials held on-site are accepted during the SCRC’s open hours.

Many SCRC materials have been digitized, allowing you to access our holdings from anywhere around the world.

Explore our freely available databases and digital collections to get started.

Ordering Digital Scans

You can use your Research Services Account to request digital scans of SCRC materials. Once completed, scans are sent directly to your account free-of-charge. We can scan approximately 250 pages of material within two weeks of your request.

Find instructions on requesting scans:

• for archival material
• for rare books and print collections

Please keep in mind that some SCRC materials are subject to copyright and use restrictions. Contact your librarian or visit our SCRC Account Guide for more information.